Honduras boss Reinaldo Rueda believes his team can lift the spirits of the nation at the World Cup in South Africa.

Colombian coach Rueda is already idolised in Honduras after leading the country to only their second World Cup finals amid a state of severe political instability.

Honduras elected a new president last year after his predecessor was overthrown in a coup.

"Of course we are very well aware of these situations," said Rueda on the eve of his team's Group H opener against Chile in Nelspruit.

"We know the phase the country went through during our qualifying process.

"That is additional motivation for us to give this victory to the country - that would be something really great.

"We believe in our work and if we win this will be a huge step forward."

Honduras have the capacity to spring a surprise in their first World Cup since 1982 with players such as Barclays Premier League trio Wilson Palacios, Maynor Figueroa and Hendry Thomas in their ranks.

Injuries, however, have hampered their build-up with key striker David Suazo struggling to prove his fitness and midfielder Julio Cesar de Leon a late addition to the casualty list.

Torino playmaker De Leon injured a hamstring in training this week and seems unlikely to take the field against Chile at the Mbombela Stadium.

Rueda said: "Julio is depressed because of this situation and we will see how he copes with this pain.

"Of course this will make a difference, we have been working well with Julio."

Suazo is at least making encouraging progress and will be given a fitness test but, with games against favourites Spain and Switzerland to come, Rueda intends to err on the side of caution.

Rueda said: "He is on the right track. I think the outlook is very good for the team and fans in Honduras.

"It is a matter of making the right decision - not just for this match against Chile but the next match as well."

Tottenham midfielder Palacios had also been a concern with a thigh injury earlier in the week but has now fully recovered.

Rueda, a former university professor, will be absent from the dugout for the opener after incurring a touchline ban for kicking a bottle during a previous match.

Captain Amado Guevara claims training has been so good that is not a cause for concern.

The 34-year-old, who is poised to win his 136th international cap in his first World Cup match, said: "Everybody knows he is the man, he is our professor, our teacher, and we will certainly feel his absence tomorrow.

"But there is the work done by the team - he may not be directly there with us but the work has been done.

"We know how the Chileans play and in midfield we are going to have a tough battle.

"That is where we will have to do most of the work, we will need strong spirits individually and collectively.

"You will see a team that is serious, dedicated and concentrating.

"We just hope we can live up to what we have planned and prepared and we can start this dream with a victory."

Guevara is now in a third spell with club side Motagua in Honduras but has played for number of sides in the United States and also had stints in Costa Rica and Spain in his career.

The prospect of playing on a pitch that is part natural, part artificial at one of several impressive new venues in South Africa is also not a worry.

Guevara said: "It is nothing new for me. I have played quite a number of years in the United States. We played on them in the US, in Toronto.

"This is not typical for a World Cup but I don't think this can serve as an excuse not to play well against Chile."

With the tournament six days old tomorrow, Honduras and Chile will be among the last sides to take to the field in the World Cup.

Rueda is itching for the action to start.

"There is tension, expectation, emotion - it's what we have been preparing for the last three years," said Rueda.

"There is great tension but this must be turned into positive energy. It must become some kind of fuel to unfurl our talents."

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